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acuriousreader's Reviews (575)
this wasn't sexy.... at all. some of the things said DURING the sex scenes was downright weird and creepy
Originally posted to my blog, click here
I am a long time fan of Maas. No matter how many times she writes the same characters with a different name, or reuses a plot point, I will continue to read her books. Because, bottom line they are entertaining to me, but also allot great (and hilarious) discussions with in my friend groups. And if I am being completely honest, about a star and a half that I gave this book are directly because of those conversations.
I mean, It isn’t good. Straight up, it’s a rehashed ACOMAF. There are way to many similarities between the two that I have a hard time not mentioning it and comparing.
With all that said, let’s dive into this.
This story is a spin off of the main ACOTAR series with a focus on Cassian and Nesta Archeron. I won’t lie, I was not a fan of Nesta. Even went as far as saying I hated her and Cassian deserved better. Do I still stand by that? *sigh* I don’t know… no? I think Nesta was a severely traumatized woman, and was deep into a depression that made her very self destructive and self sabotaging. I can understand that to a point. I’ve been there. I think the “intervention” of sorts they have with her at the beginning is harsh yet needed. She obviously can’t pull herself out on her own, but she can’t stand to fail yet again and feel worse. so she keeps everyone around her at a distance. To the point of hurting them to do it because it will merely “happen anyway”.
Although going in to this with absolutely low expectations given my feelings towards Nesta’s character, I was pleasantly surprised by her growth and her journey, and by the end I was rooting for her. For her… alone. Listen, I love Cassian, always have. However, I felt the actual “romance” part of this wasn’t there. In moments that could have been tender and showcased the bond forming between them, deeper than just the obvious physical attraction, it was always overshadowed or followed up from an immediate thought of “I want to cum in side her right NOW” *Shudders*
And this didn’t just happen with them! The bonus Az scene? All about needing to taste and feast and hard cocks. (thank god we are using cock now instead of velvet wrapped steel) Rhys and Feyre? A VERY sweet moment ruined by “I rode him right there on the studio floor”….WHY? is that necessary? Relationships are more than just sex. Is it important? Sure! To some, maybe this is relatable and that what they want in a partnership. And I like a good amount of smut, don’t get me wrong. This isn’t me just being prude. But, there is a time and place. And when you are trying to build an emotional relationship between two characters, especially ones as closed of as Nesta and Cassian, and it’s overshadowed and reduced to fucking, every time… It becomes really hard to feel or see any love there at all.
I also think this story still revolved around Rhys and Feyre way to much. I love them, I do! but what the fuck was that?! That ending made the ENTIRE book about them. And for what? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I found myself more annoyed at their presence more than anything. Rhys was an absolute ASShat in this book. Sure, maybe it was because we are seeing him from someone else’s POV…. OR, here me out, he is just an asshole?
Can we also talk about Mor? Or, more precisely, the lack there of? She was conveniently gone the entire book that was about her literal best friend? you’re telling me Amren couldn’t of been the one to be sent off? I mean, what was she even sticking around for anyway, except to remind the reader that she is still there and enjoys fucking as much as the rest of them *insert eye roll here*. The one LGBTQ+ character she…. made… was just gone the entire book. Lookin a little sus there Maas. that was a choice.
I could honestly go on for hours, especially if I got into Spoiler territory, so I’m going to just end it here. Overall I had a good time With Nesta and her band of Valkyries, Cassian was OK. Maas tried really hard to get everyone off the “Cassian is a dumb brute” kick, just to make him do dumb brute shit and not quite understand how to play the courtier game. Honestly, I think Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie, were the best thing about the book. Watching their journey and growth made the book worth it in the end.
I am a long time fan of Maas. No matter how many times she writes the same characters with a different name, or reuses a plot point, I will continue to read her books. Because, bottom line they are entertaining to me, but also allot great (and hilarious) discussions with in my friend groups. And if I am being completely honest, about a star and a half that I gave this book are directly because of those conversations.
I mean, It isn’t good. Straight up, it’s a rehashed ACOMAF. There are way to many similarities between the two that I have a hard time not mentioning it and comparing.
With all that said, let’s dive into this.
This story is a spin off of the main ACOTAR series with a focus on Cassian and Nesta Archeron. I won’t lie, I was not a fan of Nesta. Even went as far as saying I hated her and Cassian deserved better. Do I still stand by that? *sigh* I don’t know… no? I think Nesta was a severely traumatized woman, and was deep into a depression that made her very self destructive and self sabotaging. I can understand that to a point. I’ve been there. I think the “intervention” of sorts they have with her at the beginning is harsh yet needed. She obviously can’t pull herself out on her own, but she can’t stand to fail yet again and feel worse. so she keeps everyone around her at a distance. To the point of hurting them to do it because it will merely “happen anyway”.
Although going in to this with absolutely low expectations given my feelings towards Nesta’s character, I was pleasantly surprised by her growth and her journey, and by the end I was rooting for her. For her… alone. Listen, I love Cassian, always have. However, I felt the actual “romance” part of this wasn’t there. In moments that could have been tender and showcased the bond forming between them, deeper than just the obvious physical attraction, it was always overshadowed or followed up from an immediate thought of “I want to cum in side her right NOW” *Shudders*
And this didn’t just happen with them! The bonus Az scene? All about needing to taste and feast and hard cocks. (thank god we are using cock now instead of velvet wrapped steel) Rhys and Feyre? A VERY sweet moment ruined by “I rode him right there on the studio floor”….WHY? is that necessary? Relationships are more than just sex. Is it important? Sure! To some, maybe this is relatable and that what they want in a partnership. And I like a good amount of smut, don’t get me wrong. This isn’t me just being prude. But, there is a time and place. And when you are trying to build an emotional relationship between two characters, especially ones as closed of as Nesta and Cassian, and it’s overshadowed and reduced to fucking, every time… It becomes really hard to feel or see any love there at all.
I also think this story still revolved around Rhys and Feyre way to much. I love them, I do! but what the fuck was that?! That ending made the ENTIRE book about them. And for what? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I found myself more annoyed at their presence more than anything. Rhys was an absolute ASShat in this book. Sure, maybe it was because we are seeing him from someone else’s POV…. OR, here me out, he is just an asshole?
Can we also talk about Mor? Or, more precisely, the lack there of? She was conveniently gone the entire book that was about her literal best friend? you’re telling me Amren couldn’t of been the one to be sent off? I mean, what was she even sticking around for anyway, except to remind the reader that she is still there and enjoys fucking as much as the rest of them *insert eye roll here*. The one LGBTQ+ character she…. made… was just gone the entire book. Lookin a little sus there Maas. that was a choice.
I could honestly go on for hours, especially if I got into Spoiler territory, so I’m going to just end it here. Overall I had a good time With Nesta and her band of Valkyries, Cassian was OK. Maas tried really hard to get everyone off the “Cassian is a dumb brute” kick, just to make him do dumb brute shit and not quite understand how to play the courtier game. Honestly, I think Nesta, Gwyn and Emerie, were the best thing about the book. Watching their journey and growth made the book worth it in the end.
